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Steve Garvey

A 10-time All Star, Garvey won the National League MVP award in 1974 and was one of the biggest stars in baseball throughout most of the 1970’s and 80’s. A career .294 hitter, Garvey slugged 272 home runs and drove in 1,308 runs during a 19-year career that saw him play for just two teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.

He had his first taste of the big leagues in 1969 as he appeared in three games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. By 1973 he was the team’s starting first baseman and by 1974 he was one of the best players in the National League. Garvey hit .312 that season with 21 home runs and 111 RBIs. He made his first All-Star team, won his first Gold Glove and was named the NL MVP. He would go on to make the All-Star team every year through 1981. He also won three more Gold Gloves and received MVP votes every year during that same period. He was second in the MVP vote in 1978 when he hit .316 with 113 RBIs, 21 home runs and a league best 202 hits.

The Dodgers let Garvey go in 1982 and he joined their NL West rival in San Diego. He made the All-Star team twice as a Padre in 1984 and 1985 and finished 20th in the 1984 MVP vote. Garvey remained with the Padres through 1987 when he retired.

Garvey reached the World Series five times, four with the Dodgers and once with the Padres. He hit .338 in 232 post season at bats with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs. He was the MVP of the 1978 and 1984 NLCS. He won the World Series once, with the Dodgers in 1981. He hit .417 in the series against the Yankees.

Garvey played football and baseball at Michigan State. He holds the record for most consecutive games played in the NL (1,207). His number (6) was retired by the Padres. He is a member of the Irish American Hall of Fame and the Michigan State University Athletics Hall of Fame.